Posted on 09/09/2007 9:31:29 PM PDT by goldstategop
Most people would include compassion on the short list of human virtues. At one point, I would have been one of those people. But, no longer is that the case. Like so many other things, it has taken on a far different meaning in recent times.
In the past, compassion was extended to the elderly, the abused, the innocent and the infirm. But during the last few decades, it has become an entitlement demanded by members of various voting blocs. In short order, it has been transformed into political currency doled out by political hacks trolling for votes.
But as ridiculous as it is for, say, blacks to demand reparations from whites whose own ancestors werent even on the North American continent when slavery was abolished over 140 years ago, its even goofier when illegal aliens submit a list of demands.
One day, theyre asking for drivers licenses, voting rights and Social Security; the next, its free medical attention; the day after, its free schooling. Theyve given new meaning to chutzpah. But the truly bizarre aspect to it is that their selfish demands are so often catered to not only by spineless politicians, but by the public at large.
Its bad enough that certain churches are offering sanctuary to illegal aliens, but a growing number of cities are following suit. Quite honestly, I dont understand why those who spend so much time insisting on the separation of church and state when its a matter of Christmas trees and Jewish menorahs in public places dont open their yaps when churches roll out the welcome mat to lawbreakers. And since when does the mayor of, for instance, Los Angeles, just one of the many cities whose social services and jails are being stretched to the limit, have the authority to ignore federal law?
Frankly, Im sick and tired of pretending that foreigners -- be they Islamic terrorists or Mexican nationals -- are somehow entitled to constitutional safeguards, not to mention a grab-bag of goodies unavailable to law-abiding American taxpayers.
Recently, I received an e-mail from a kindred soul. She wrote: Like a lot of folks, I have a job that requires I pass a random urine test. Thats not a problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my tax money to people who dont have to pass a similar test. Why shouldnt one have to pass a drug test in order to get a welfare check if I have to pass one in order to earn it for them?
Not very compassionate, I grant you, in these days of unbridled political correctness. But it certainly sounds far more sensible than anything Ive heard from our elected officials. One can only assume that when this sorry collection of senators and congressmen took their oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, they all had their fingers crossed.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Insightful question.
Their sense of self-importance is grossly offensive.
And they obviously do not respect the people they pretend to have compassion for. If they did have compassion and respect they wouldn’t use them as pawns in their power games.
I meant to say :
They wouldn’t use the
people (that they are pretending to help) in their power games.
mark
The fact that the word has come to be used wrongly does not change the fact that the virtue of compassion is still a very important virtue. Furthermore, there's been little real compassion in most of what liberalism is trying to do. By failing to point out that these actions aren't really compassionate, the writer fails to make one of the best cases against these liberal ideas.
Bill
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